Received for publication July 31, 2006.
Revised September 7, 2006.
Accepted for publication September 7, 2006.

ANTI-INFLUENZA VIRAL PRODRUG OSELTAMIVIR IS ACTIVATED BY CARBOXYLESTERASE HCE1 AND THE ACTIVATION IS INHIBITED BY ANTI-PLATELET AGENT CLOPIDOGREL

Abstract

Oseltamivir is the main medicine recommended by the World Health Organization in anticipation of next influenza pandemic. This anti-influenza viral agent is an ester prodrug and the anti-viral activity is achieved by its hydrolytic metabolite: oseltamivir carboxylate. In this study, we report that the hydrolytic activation is catalyzed by carboxylesterase HCE1. Liver microsomes rapidly hydrolyzed oseltamivir, but no hydrolysis was detected with intestinal microsomes or plasma. The overall rate of the hydrolysis varied among individual liver samples and was correlated well with the level of HCE1. Recombinant HCE1 but not HCE2 hydrolyzed this prodrug and produced similar kinetic parameters as the liver microsomes. Several HCE1 natural variants differed from the wild type enzyme on the hydrolysis of oseltamivir. In the presence of anti-platelet agent clopidogrel, the hydrolysis of oseltamivir was inhibited by as much as 90% when the equal concentration was assayed. Given the fact that hydrolysis of oseltamivir is required for its therapeutic activity, concurrent use of both drugs would inhibit the activation of oseltamivir, thus making this anti-viral agent therapeutically inactive. This is epidemiologically of significance, because people who receive oseltamivir and clopidogrel simultaneously may maintain susceptibility to influenza infection or a source of spreading influenza virus if already infected.

Key words: Carboxylesterase, HCE1, HCE2, Oseltamivir, Tamiflu, flu pandemic